Course intent
Do you want to cook healthy and delicious meals from scratch but lack confidence in the kitchen? This course will provide you with the must-know skills to use fresh ingredients, prepare meals from scratch and adapt recipes to meet dietary requirements. It will also look at ways to eat well for less and reduce your food waste.
This course intends to cover basic cookery and food hygiene skills that will allow you to prepare a range of meals safely from scratch and adapt recipes to accommodate dietary requirements.
This course is primarily funded by the Henrietta Parker Trust and as such learners will only need to pay a minimal course fee. For more information on the Trust, please see the dedicated page on our website.
What will we cover?
Each week, you will receive a workbook that will provide you with the knowledge and skills you will need to complete your lesson successfully. It will also include a recipe for the session, but also further recipes you can use to practise the skills taught that week.
In stage 1, you will complete basic cooking techniques and include the following:
Week 1: Knife skills and boiling & simmering to produce something like a soup.
Week 2: Sauté/Stir-fry to produce something like a stir-fry.
Week 3: Frying and marinades to produce something like a curry.
Week 4: basic sauces including red and white sauce to produce something like a beef or chicken lasagne.
Week 5: Free choice as agreed by the class
You will also learn the best hygienic practices and understand food safety hazards that may occur in a kitchen.
Our courses build on past learning, week by week, to develop new abilities. You will find you make the most progress if you attend every taught lesson and complete any self-directed study opportunities provided.
Who is this course for? Is there anything I need to know before joining?
No skills or prior knowledge are required before starting the course. The course is suitable for the complete beginner or for those who wish to broaden their skills in the kitchen. Less experienced or less confident cooks may be encouraged to limit the number of dishes they prepare.
This course is suitable for vegetarians and those with any specific dietary requirements. The tutor will always be able to suggest alternative ingredients.
Terms and conditions for our Henrietta Parker Trust (HPT) courses do apply. Please visit the dedicated page on our website to view these and for further details.
As our courses are taught in English, please contact us if you have any concerns about your level of English.
What do I need to bring to the first class? Will there be any extra costs?
All ingredients will be provided for you; however, you will need to bring suitable containers to take your dishes home. You will receive an email before the start of the course, informing you of the ingredients and the food containers you will need to bring with you to the first lesson.
Please ensure you have an apron and tea-towels available. Also ensure you have a pen and reading glasses (if you use them), so that you can read and make notes on the recipes.
It is important to wear clothes and footwear suitable for a busy, hot kitchen.
What can I do when I finish the course?
You can progress to Cookery - Essential Skills - Stage 2.
Please note - you are able to enrol on future terms of this, or any other course by calling the Customer Service Team on 0300 200 1044, or by visiting your local Adult Learning Centre.
Additional information
Please do let us know if you have any allergy or food intolerance when you enrol on any one of our cookery courses. This information is important for your own wellbeing and will ensure the tutor can plan alternative ingredients or recipes where necessary.
We welcome learners with additional needs and disabilities. When you enrol, please let us know if you would like to discuss your extra support needs with a member of the Supported Learning Team, who will then contact you as soon as possible. If you are enrolling within 10 days of the course start date, we may not be able to contact you before your first class. Surrey Adult Learning values and supports equality and diversity by promoting fairness and respect at all times.
How to enrol
You can't currently enrol online for this course, so please call 0300 200 1044 to express your interest or to make an enquiry for further information.
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